Chapter 72: Archaeological Team

Chapter 72: Archaeological Team

Amid his sigh, Klein allowed himself to relax and, like an ordinary person, enjoy the rare peace and comfort inside the dream.

Roughly fifteen minutes later, he finally waited until the Church Beyonder who had come to soothe him left the dream.

“At last… I can sleep peacefully…”

Klein had instinctively intended to open his eyes and fall asleep again, but he discovered that once he no longer maintained extreme vigilance and caution, he could rely on the lingering serenity in the dream to fall directly into deep sleep.

That night, his quality of sleep was exceptionally good. He slept all the way until daybreak, when the sun had just risen, the red moon still lingered, the sky was growing bright, and the wind sounded softly outside.

Klein lazily stared into space for nearly ten minutes before reaching for the gold-cased pocket watch on the bedside cabinet and pressing it open with a snap.

“Not even half past six… Should I turn over and keep sleeping, or just get up?”

Klein examined his state. Seeing that his mind was clear, his energy abundant, and no trace of fatigue remained, he got out of bed, washed up, and paced to the balcony, gazing at the orange-red horizon.

In this season, because of the wind, Backlund’s smog was not too severe to begin with. Combined with the air pollution control efforts carried out over the previous months, the sky at that moment was clear and blue, and the air was refreshing. Gardeners were already busy in the gardens. Kitchen maids and odd-job footmen were heading to the market together. Apart from them, the surroundings were peaceful, making Klein’s mood suddenly brighten. For a brief moment, he forgot every worry and felt that this world belonged only to him at that instant.

With a barely noticeable smile, he quietly enjoyed the scene. Over the next quarter of an hour, two or three servants gradually emerged from the surrounding houses, some carrying baskets, some leading horses. Bit by bit, the entire street came to life, and the sunlight gradually grew brighter.

“This is what life should be like…”

Klein sighed soundlessly. Suddenly, he felt an impulse to go out for a walk. Turning around, he left the balcony, walked to the door, and turned the handle.

Outside the master bedroom, Richardson was already waiting. No one could guess what time he had risen.

This was the hardest part of being a personal valet: one had to sleep later than one’s employer and rise earlier.

“Breakfast is still an hour away. If you wish to have it earlier, sir, the kitchen can prepare it within fifteen minutes.” Richardson did not ask why Dawn Dantes had suddenly risen early.

Klein chuckled.

“There is no need to move it earlier. I intend to go for a walk first.”

“Yes, sir.” Richardson entered the bedroom and, following his employer’s preferences, selected a coat and helped him put it on.

At last, Klein put on his silk top hat, took his gold-inlaid cane, went down to the first floor, and walked out the main door. Along the Intis plane trees and black gas streetlamps by the roadside, he slowly strolled toward the other end of the street.

Along the way, faint fragrances floated out from the gardens of each house. Green leaves high in the trees created a quiet, secluded mood. Passersby came in twos and threes, few in number. The occasional carriage broke the silence, then quickly disappeared into the distance.

Klein enjoyed the morning environment and the pleasantness of rising early. He felt the remaining traces of yesterday’s negative emotions evaporating bit by bit and vanishing little by little.

Mm. Beyonders must know how to actively create conditions to regulate their moods… After a walk like this, the bishops at Saint Samuel Cathedral should know that Dawn Dantes has fully recovered and won’t come disturb my sleep in the middle of the night again…

As Klein’s thoughts wandered, his gaze casually swept past No. 39 Böklund Street.

This was Councilman Macht’s home.

Its outer wall was made of pointed iron bars, allowing passersby to appreciate the beauty of the garden through the gaps.

As his gaze moved, Klein saw a familiar figure. It was Hazel, with dark-green hair and deep brown eyes. This beautiful and proud young lady was walking along the garden path with her maid, glancing left and right from time to time.

She is up this early too? Is it because she has not been able to go to the sewers at night recently, so her sleep quality is excellent?

Klein mocked inwardly and withdrew his gaze, strolling on.

Glancing at Richardson, who followed steadily a little behind him to the side, Klein suddenly remembered the news reports, magazine columns, and novels about the Southern Continent that he had read recently.

He had always been consciously reading such material to enrich Dawn Dantes’s persona. After all, much of his previous understanding of the Southern Continent came from pirates, adventurers, and Anderson, the strongest hunter of the Fog Sea. Who knew how much of it had been exaggerated or fabricated?

The materials I read before and recently are all about so-and-so going to the Southern Continent, making a fortune, and coming back—or simply moving there. Heh. This makes the people of Backlund believe that the Southern Continent is covered in gold and filled with opportunities to become rich overnight. Even common trees there have sap with many uses that can be exchanged for large amounts of gold pounds. That is why the kingdom frequently fights Feysac, Intis, and other nations to seize colonies… If commoners could afford ship fare and dared to stow away, there would definitely be a large population flow toward that place…

As Klein’s thoughts shifted, he casually asked his personal valet, “What is the Southern Continent like in your memory?”

He remembered that Richardson had been born on a manor there and only been brought to Backlund after reaching adulthood.

Richardson remained silent for several seconds.

“Sir, I actually do not know the Southern Continent very deeply, because most of the time I was busy on the manor and rarely had the chance to go out.”

“Just speak about your impression, your truest impression. Do not worry about anything. I only want to understand it roughly. You know, they all think I am an expert on the Southern Continent, but in reality, my experience is limited to a few places and the merchant class,” Klein said with a chuckle.

Richardson slowly lowered his head, looking at the toes of his own shoes as he walked forward.

“My impression of the Southern Continent is:

“Hunger, exhaustion, pain, and longing for the world after death…”

Hunger, exhaustion, pain…

Klein repeated those three words silently as he walked step by step along Böklund Street. He did not ask anything more.

…

East Chester County, inside a building at the edge of Storn University.

Audrey was visiting the collection obtained by the Loen Antiquities Collection and Preservation Foundation.

She had originally planned to come on Tuesday afternoon, but Associate Professor Michel Dewey had gone to Backlund to attend an academic conference and had only returned today, so she had had no choice but to change her schedule.

“This pair of boots was discovered by a farmer near Storn inside a ruin in the mountains. Their shape and characteristics are very similar to the social trends of the Fourth Epoch,” Michel introduced the items inside the glass display case to the noble and beautiful young lady.

Audrey looked over with great interest and saw that the boots’ toes curled upward noticeably, making them seem to belong to a clown.

The degree of upward curling on each side was different—one three centimeters, the other five centimeters—making them look mismatched.

The asymmetrical style of the Fourth Epoch… I wonder what class left three, right five represents…

Audrey withdrew her gaze and followed Associate Professor Michel to the next item in the collection.

When the visit neared its end, Michel pointed at a glass display case diagonally ahead.

“This coat of arms was only delivered a few days ago. It involves very ancient dragon worship.”

Dragon…

Audrey stepped forward with restrained elegance. As she approached, she saw that the surface of the coat of arms was carved with a gray-white dragon spreading its wings.

“Where did it come from?” Audrey asked, no differently than before.

Michel answered, “A village called Hedrak. This Loenese word has no prototype in ancient Feysac. It seems to be spelled directly according to pronunciation.”

Hedrak… That is the village with customs of dragon worship that I visited before. Within the collective subconscious sea of its people lives a mind dragon… The Twenty Years’ War notebook I previously obtained from Associate Professor Michel belonged to a knight from that village named Lindyra, who is suspected to be connected to that mind dragon…

Audrey nodded thoughtfully, weighing her words as she considered asking who had found the coat of arms.

Just then, Associate Professor Michel’s expression became unusually grave.

“The discovery of this coat of arms came with a tragedy.”

“A tragedy?” Audrey did not hide her surprise.

Associate Professor Michel exhaled.

“An archaeological team entered that village to study the customs of dragon worship. As a result, one of its members went mad during the night. And that mental illness seemed capable of spreading. Later, every member of the archaeological team became mad one after another. They killed one another, or harmed themselves. Not a single one survived.

“This coat of arms was found among their belongings. It was first taken by the police. Only after they confirmed there was no problem was it donated to us.”

An archaeological team entered the village, and the members went mad one after another…

Audrey’s eyes widened slightly as she repeated Associate Professor Michel’s words in her mind.

Suddenly, inspiration flashed through her head.

The Psychology Alchemists!

Every member of that archaeological team was from the Psychology Alchemists!